Best In Show - 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

[Merc1]

What does bmw have to do with it ? No need to read the other blogs, i talk for my case and you only have to read all the negative comments on this forum to see how people were annoyed by the ridiculous ammount of official spy pics.

Yeah we all were, me included, but it only made us anticipate the car that much more and as soon as the car was shown all that was long forgotten by everyone that likes the car. Point being there wasn't any excitment taken away for those who liked the end result. Some on the other hand wouldn't have liked it no matter what.

M

 

[Tarek]

Yes, and it's one of the poll options as well in case you didn't notice.

No i didn't......thanx a lot for bringing it to my attention..lol

 

[Deleted member 25]

Yeah we all were, me included, but it only made us anticipate the car that much more and as soon as the car was shown all that was long forgotten by everyone that likes the car. Point being there wasn't any excitment taken away. Some on the other hand wouldn't have liked it no matter what.

M

It has nothing to do with liking the car or not, thing is that normally when you discover the official photos, you always end up discovering much hidden details or appreciate the object from different perspectives, but in this case there wasn't much left to be discovered, hence reducing the surprise effect to its minimum.

 

[Merc1]

it has nothing to do with liking the car or not, thing is that normally when you discover the official photos, you always end up discovering much hidden details or appreciate the object from different perspectives, but in this case there wasn't much left to be discovered, hence reducing the surprise effect to its minimum.

Yep, in your opinion.

M

 

[HighestOfHigh]

HighestOfHigh's thoughts

Well when it comes down to it, I would say it would be between the SLS AMG and Bentley Muslanne.

Bentley Mulsanne

Even though we have seen this car before, the blue Mulsanne really just did my heart some good. Seeing those live photos really did Bentley some justice. After looking at it in Blue I developed a entirely new appreciation for this car.

Mercedes-Benz SLS

The SLS is an absolute amazing work of art and is sure to be an award winner at the show. It looked absolute superb and I am sure it received a lot of praises at Frankfurt.

Ferrari 458

Alway beautiful!


Rolls-Royce Ghost

Nice, but the brown threw me off.


Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Nice, but wasn't a BIG suprise.

Aston Martin Rapide

Glorious, but I'm still concerned about those back seats.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Not impressed at all

Audi R8 5.2 FSI Spyder

Nice ride!

Maserati GranCabrio

Always elegant and first class

.............

Honestly, I was equally impressed with the SLS and Bentley so what it has to come down too is Luxury vs Sport.

Since I have always preferred a luxury car over a sports car (The SLS could be considered both in some cases especially with that amazing interior)....I will go with Bentley. The color and those interior shots just amazed me. The SLS would be my next choice, but both cars really made Frankfurt hot this year.

 

[martinbo]

Difficult to mix concept cars with production models... but there's a logic to it.

Technically BMW's Vision ED impressed with its exciting detailing and innovative packaging and powetrain. Unfortunately it's one of those concept cars that is so far removed from production reality (as a complete whole) that one can only glean individual ideas from the car.

Without question the star (so to speak) of the show is the SLS. It's a beautiful Mercedes Benz and a technically impressive vehicle to boot. No doubt it'll be a choice car to drive too... I can't spew enough superlatives about the thing.

That said however, the car that - as a complete end-to-end product - impresses me the most is Ferrari's exquisite and dynamically peerless 458 Italia. This car meets my every expectation of what a quintessential, 21st century, mid-engined Ferrari should be. The extraordinary Pinninfarina bodywork, the astonishing outputs and groundbreaking driver interface mark the Ferrari 458 Italia as my zenith of Frankfurt 2009.

 

[Zafiro]

Of course its Ferrari 458. In my world its a perfect car.

 

[NarutoRamen]

My favorite:

SLS, simply because of the fact that it's a production model and it's gorgeous. My second favorite, and its VERY close behind, is the Vision Concept. The reason that it's second is because it's a concept and we don't know how much of the car will make production besides what we've already been told by Scott and Eni.

 

[lambornima]

R8 Spyder looks like crap in my opinion. I would always argue against the anit-R8 people that the R8 didnt look like a audi TT despite the family resemblance. now though, it pretty close to the TT convert.

the 458 looks nice except not from the front. looks japanese from the front.

SLS- meh. SLR looks quite a lot better. its got the rear of a hyundai, a disproportional front and a side profile of an S2000. its fast, but thats not all that matters.

Reventon- winner in my book. very few roadsters look better than their coupe counterparts, but the Reventon Roadster has just done that. it basically a concept car put into very limited production. everything is pure sculputure, and the car looks original. nothing else looks like it. not by a long long long shot. just the engine cover alone is otherworldly. on top of all of this, there is the 670 hp. 0-100 in 3 seconds, 0-200 in 10-n-a-bit seconds.

the bentley look like crap from the front.

the Rapide is beaufitul, for a sedan. the coupe obviously looks better. not the best but very beautiful though.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Of course its Ferrari 458. In my world its a perfect car.

Wow...I thought you would have went for the Vision concept. The Ferrari 458 is a nice choice though.

 

[Merc1]

Car and driver videos from frankfurt

Car and Driver - The Super Cars of Frankfurt - Video


Really good look at the Ghost among others.


M

 

[Zafiro]

Wow...I thought you would have went for the Vision concept. The Ferrari 458 is a nice choice though.

Unlike many others I dont pick my favorite brand over and over and over and over and over again. I may like BMW but there are so many other cars I rather be driving. The germans doenst have N/A engine with a 9000 rpm redline with a weight like a feather.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Unlike many others I dont pick my favorite brand over and over and over and over and over again. I may like BMW but there are so many other cars I rather be driving. The germans doenst have N/A engine with a 9000 rpm redline with a weight like a feather.

Lol...Oh like I do! Well I did actually pick the Bentley this time so I should at least get 2 points for that.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Ferrari 458 Italia named Best in Show at Frankfurt by AutoWeek editors

The Frankfurt auto show is massive, and this year's event did not let anyone down. The world's automakers gathered and brought along a veritable buffet of new supercars, electric-powered concepts and distinct road cars. AutoWeek editors made the mile-long trek from the front gates of the Frankfurt Messe to the BMW hall several times and have concluded that Ferrari's new 458 Italia deserves our Best in Show award.

It wasn't easy to pick a winner in each of the four categories--that's how good this year's Frankfurt show was. But each of the award winners will be remembered for years to come.

BEST IN SHOW: Ferrari 458 Italia

It is rare when there are more than a few in the race for this coveted title, but that was the case at Frankfurt, when no fewer than eight manufacturers had vehicles in the final. When the scrapping was over, Ferrari's 458 Italia triumphed.

The 458 wears voluptuous, organic shapes tied together with technical and efficient lines. No matter when you see this car in the future--in five years or 50 years from now on a concours lawn--it will always be the one that debuted at Frankfurt in 2009.

Others considered: Maserati GranCabrio, Mercedes-Benz SLS, Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Mulsanne, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Lamborghini Reventón Spyder, Audi R8 Spyder.

BEST CONCEPT: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Maybe the most pure concept car at this year's Frankfurt show, BMW's glimpse into the performance sedan of the future uses technology, and design cues, that we'll see in production BMWs in the near future.

Powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel with a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle and a full-hybrid system at the rear, this 2+2-seater also reveals some hints as to the exterior design features we'll see on future BMW passenger cars. With a top speed of 155 mph, this car shows that the future emphasis on fuel efficiency can offer a lot of fun as well.

Others considered: Peugeot BB1, Citroën REVOLTe, Volkswagen E Up

MOST SIGNIFICANT: Renault EV family of four production electric cars

To think about which manufacturer was making the greatest impact and statement with its exhibit, it had to fall to Renault (and by default, though not exhibiting, its Nissan sister company.)

With no fewer than four vehicles destined to come to market in three short years, Renault is putting an electrified stake in the ground and showing the rest of the world that while it might not be all in with this bet, it is not leaving much on the table.

Others considered: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, Jaguar XJ, Opel Astra, Saab 9-5, Ford Grand C-Max

MOST FUN: Porsche 911 Turbo

As is the case with all of the categories this year, a number of strong contenders vied for the title of Most Fun. When the smoke cleared, the new Porsche 911 Turbo came out on top as the one car whose keys we all wanted for a spirited ride. Surely it would brighten the sourest disposition. How can anyone argue with a choice like this?

Others considered: Maserati GranCabrio, Peugeot BB1, Mini Roadster, Mazda Superlight, Volkswagen Golf R, Alfa-Romeo Mito Cloverleaf and Lamborghini Reventón Spyder

 

[martinbo]

^ I gather you disagree HoH? Care to explain why?

 

[HighestOfHigh]

BEST IN SHOW: Ferrari 458 Italia


BEST CONCEPT: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics


MOST FUN: Porsche 911 Turbo

Well I agree with the BMW one. Best in Show really should have went to the SLS. Personally the Blue Bentley got my vote just because I'm more into luxury then sport, but the SLS deserved this honor way more then the Ferrari. Not because I am a Benz fan, it's just that the Ferrari 458 was presented (photo released) a while before frankfurt. There was no big WOW. The SLS on the other hand was shown just a few days before, plus it seems as though it made a much bigger splash judging from some website then the Ferrari.

I love both cars, but the SLS should have gotten this hands down.

Now "Most Fun"...thats just BS.

 

[martinbo]

HoH, you really are odd. And I mean that in the nicest possible way - it's good that you're different!

But, I couldn't disagree more lol.

The SLS was shown from its guts inside out for months before the show leaving nothing to the imagination except its absolute (and highly predictable) end styling result. The 458 Italia was launched with pure marketing precision imo. It was a huge wow. Take nothing away from the SLS however, as I said in an earlier post it was the star of the show for most people.

Most fun... of course it's BS but then again a 911 Turbo is mighty fun by any stretch of the imagination. All depends on one's personal definition of fun though.